1. The College Application Process

2. People to Know! Counselors Works With Loretta Collins Last Names A-D
Herb Crowell Last Names E-J
Amy Webster Last Names K-M
Amy Webster Last Names N-Sa
Teresa Savage Last Names Sb-Z
CCC Coordinators
Danielle Seifert All Students
Eman Abdullahi All Students

3. Music Courtesy of
The Billboard Top …….. The year Crowell graduated from Hunterdon Central High School, New Jersey!

4. Graduation Requirements
Course
Credits
Notes
Total credits offered
28 credits
Credit status letter sent home October 1st.
Web-based credit recovery has started. Student can sign up in the counseling office.
Students taking MPS Online Fitness and Health should know their credit requirements.
Total needed to graduate
21.5 credits
English
4 credits (4 years)
Social Studies
Math
3 credits (3 years)
Science
Health
1 credit (1 year) PE
Fine Arts
Electives
4.5 credits

5. From a Director…
Every year thousands of students go through the college search. Every year thousands of students end up in college. ..
…You will too.

6. Counselor Advice for Students
Yes, soon, you will be making a leap into your future. You can do it.
Make informed choices
Engage with the process
Use your resources well
Remain calm and organized
The “best” school is the one that fits you best. By the way, there is no one single “best" school for you.

7. Roles Student Parent Counselor/Career Center Coordinator
Project Manager (aka “The Application Doer”, “The Appointment Maker”, “The Requester of Letters”)
Parent
Provide supporting conversations
Providing reality checks (financial resources, fit)
Counselor/Career Center Coordinator
Answer questions
Provide resources
Send transcripts and forms/writing letters/assisting teachers
Provide reality checks

8. Weekly Rotating Counselor Advisory Presentations
Senior Meeting (9/15)
U of M, TC; UW Madison (9/22 )
Private College Applications (10/6)
Writing the Essay (10/13)
MNSCU and UW campuses (10/27)
Community/Tech Ed Schools & Apprenticeships (11/10)
Financial Feasibility (11/17)
Financial Aid Overview (12/1)
Scholarships (12/8, 2/2)
Decoding Financial Aid packages (3/23)
Senior Exit Surveys (May)

9. Apply! Order of Operations
Create Your List
Complete Applications
Make Appointment with Counselor
Request letters from teachers, if needed
Request test scores sent from ACT/SAT, if necessary
Track Application, Transcripts, and Letters through Naviance and college’s portal
Pay $2 per transcript fee to Counseling Office in May
NOTE: Students can send applications in piecemeal

10. Create Your List

11. Creating Your List A good school is one that is a good fit for you
A school where you will be happy, engaged, grow and that meet your needs
Educational
Personal
Social
Financial

12. Create Your List G.P.A. Class Rank ACT or SAT Test Scores
Factors in your “Objectively Important Profile” (published)
G.P.A.
Class Rank
ACT or SAT Test Scores
Factors in your “Subjectively Important Profile” (unpublished)
Rigor of Courses
Activities/ Unusual Talent
Diversity (Race, Ethnicity, Income, Geography)

13. Create Your List Likely – realistic Possible – selective
Your profile is SIGNIFICANTLY stronger than the typical freshman
60-90% chance of admission
Possible – selective
Your profile is similar to the typical freshman
30-60% chance of admission
Reach – more selective
Your profile is not as strong as the typical freshman
less than 30% chance of admission

15. Select the school you’re interested in!
Select your best test!

16. Use of Scattergrams

17. Web-based College Search Resources
Naviance- Super College Match
Good for sorting schools given individualized criteria
Information comparing oneself to former WHS applicants
Collegeboard.org
Broader information comparing oneself to all applicants
Cross references schools (i.e. “those applying to school A also apply to schools B, C, and D”
Collegeresults.org
Groups “similar” schools together for comparison by varying metrics like demographics, admission rates, financial aid awards

18. CCC Visits To Washburn College/Scholarship/Community Reps
NEW! Career Talks
Project Success college tours
Why Sign Up For a CCC Visit?
Ask questions
Explore without leaving Minneapolis
Help add or remove schools from your list
Learn about community/summer opportunities

21. CCC Visits
Students will receive a pass in their 1st period class the day of the visit. If they do not have a 1st period, they must obtain a pass from the CCC before the visit.

22. Complete Your Applications

23. Complete Your Applications: Tips
Be Professional!
Appropriate grammar, punctuation
Formal language; do not use texting/tweeting format
Professional address
Student should apply; not the parent
Follow all directions

24. Deadline Terminology Rolling Admissions Regular Deadline
Early Action/Priority Deadline
Early Decision

25. Complete Your Applications
Know which application methods will be the least time consuming.
The Common Application
Institutional Application
The Coalition Application (new)

26. Common Application
Single application that can be sent to participating schools.
500+ member institutions
Must create an account and communicate with counselor.
Some member institutions require the Common App; Optional for others; Institutional App is sometimes easier

27. Meet With Your Counselor

28. Meeting with the Counselor
A. GET READY (20 min): Question and Answer.
B. GET SET (30 min): Set list of schools on Naviance.
Transcripts sent
Match Naviance with Common App
Sign FERPA waiver
Request Fee Waiver for App Fees
Declare Teacher Recommendations
C. GO: If needed, counselor interview to write a letter of recommendation meeting with us first (45 minutes).
Student can also meet with Ms. Seifert or Ms. Eman in CCC at any time for questions and answers. Appointments for a counselor meeting can be made with Maggie in the counseling office.

29. Request Letters Of Recommendation
If needed…

30. Letters of Recommendation
Check applications carefully to see if you need one
Also check how many. Send the appropriate number.
Fill out Rec Forms if desired.
Request 3-4 weeks prior to when needed
Thank you note to teacher

33. Send Your ACT Scores
If you haven’t already…

34. Send Your ACT Scores If you added schools to a previous ACT
Make sure they are the schools your are actually applying to!
If you did not…or if you have added schools…
Log into actstudent.org and request you ACT be sent.
$12 per score, per school.

35. Track Your Applications

39. Time for a Deep Breath…
Seriously. Do it.

40. Fall Timeline Theme: Applications
9/ College Application and FAFSA Night for families
10/4 & 5 National College Convention Center
10/ Senior Status letters sent home
10/ ACT (with late fee apply by 9/30)
11/ U of M application deadline
11/ MNACC College Washburn
12/ SAT 2 Subject Test (10/19 deadline)

41. Winter Timeline Theme: Scholarships and Financial Aid
11/10 FAFSA Presentation Night
11/17 MN Dream Act FAFSA Night
12/10 ACT (register by 11/4)
12/13 FAFSA/MN Dream Act Workshop
2/1 Washburn Scholarship Applications distributed
3/1 Application Decisions
3/1 FAFSA “Deadline”
3/23 FAFSA/MN Dream Act Workshop

42. Spring Timeline
Theme: Decision Making/Graduation 3/25 Spring Break: Final visits to colleges? 4/10 Grad status letter #2 mailed home 5/1 College Enrollment Decisions Due! 5/1 Washburn Scholarships announced (Date TBD) 6/7 Washburn Graduation (4:30pm) 6/15 Final transcripts mailed to colleges from counseling office 7/1 Be sure to request AP/IB/College credits are forwarded to college

43. Finally…

44. Financial Aid
FAFSA can be submitted earlier than ever. Opens October 1st. (Prior-Prior Year)
Need-based aid for school year now based on 2015 taxes.
You must submit your 2015 tax information-colleges will not process FAFSA’s with 2016 tax information
If 2015 is not reflective of current financial reality (medical expenses, divorce, etc.)- you must submit an appeal with the college financial aid office. To do so, contact your college’s financial aid office.
Reciprocity between public institutions MN, WI, ND, SD, Manitoba.

45. Financial Aid and Scholarships
November10th at Washburn: Merit Aid
Net Price Calculators
Any institution that can receive student financial must supply a calculator on it’s website
Several “vendors” of net price calculators so they may look different.
Don’t forget about FAFSA estimators

46. Helpful Resources www.ohe.state.mn.us www.student.ed.gov
Financial Aid Counselors at colleges where student is applying
CCC Newsletter- sent electronically through Naviance (example paper copies)
Office of Higher Education financial aid staff (651) or (800)
Handouts
Power Point copies and on WHS counseling website
Orange- Financial Aid Changes Handouts
Blue- OHE Resources
White- tax benefits
Questions on federal aid program and application process (800)